Prescription drugs continue to contribute to our nation’s substance use disorder and overdose epidemic and our youth and young adults can easily be among those affected. It is important for parents to help minimize teens exposure prescribed painkillers (opioids) and sedatives they can become dependent on and to keep all medications locked up to eliminate the risk of experimental use.
Parents should educate their youth and young adults about prescription drug safety just as they would about the use of alcohol and other drugs. A low perception of harm can lead to prescription drug misuse/abuse. Teens taking what they believe to be legitimate painkillers, sedatives and stimulants sourced through social media sites, illegitimate pharmacies and friends. Drugs obtained from anything other than a legitimate pharmacy can easily be counterfeit and laced with deadly illicitly manufactured fentanyl.
Be familiar with signs of overdose and keep Naloxone on hand and know how to use it. To learn more, visit here.
Click here to access a ‘Talking to Your Kids About Prescription Drug Abuse’ brochure by NIDA.
For information regarding Prescription Drug Misuse and Abuse Impacting Teens visit here.